Public Health Department Investigates First Probable Case of Monkeypox
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 23, 2022
Contact:
Britt Ehrhardt
Public Health Department
(408) 222-0410
[email protected]
Who:
Dr. Monika Roy – Assistant Health Officer and Communicable Disease Controller, County of Santa Public Health Department
When:
Thursday, June 23, 4 – 4:30 p.m.
Journalists who will attend are requested to RSVP.
Where:
976 Lenzen Avenue
San Jose, CA 95126
What:
The County of Santa Clara Public Health Department, working with the State of California Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is investigating the county’s first probable case of monkeypox infection in a person who recently traveled internationally.
The person preliminarily tested positive for monkeypox virus after seeking medical care, the case was reported to the Public Health Department as required, and confirmation of the case is pending CDC testing. The individual is in isolation. The Public Health Department is following up with people with whom the individual may have had close contact. Additional details about the individual will not be released for reasons of medical privacy. In Santa Clara County, as is the case across the country, local public health departments follow up with individuals who might have come in close contact with people contagious with monkeypox and also work with community organizations and medical providers to ensure that the community receives information about prevention and suspected cases are reported for testing.
“Today we are announcing the first probable case of monkeypox infection in a Santa Clara County resident who likely became infected during international travel,” said Dr. Monika Roy, Communicable Disease Controller and Assistant Health Officer. “We encourage medical providers be on the lookout for monkeypox infections, which develop with a characteristic rash. Gay and bisexual men are disproportionately affected by this virus in our region, and we stand together with these communities to support residents in protecting themselves and taking care of their health.”
Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus. The overall risk of monkeypox to the general population is low. Individuals who believe they may have been exposed to monkeypox or have the characteristic rash or other symptoms, should contact their health care provider immediately. For updated information about monkeypox in Santa Clara County, visit: https://publichealth.santaclaracounty.gov/news/media-advisory/public-health-department-investigates-first-probable-case-monkeypox.
Remarks from the media availability will be livestreamed and recording will be online after at https://www.youtube.com/user/SCCPublicHealth and https://www.facebook.com/sccpublichealth/
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